With Tropical Storm Francine approaching the Texas and Louisiana Gulf Coast – and expected to make landfall tomorrow afternoon – Amtrak has canceled or modified service on its trains that serve New Orleans. Union Pacific, meanwhile, today told customers that it’s preparing for the storm, which is expected to strike as a Category 2 hurricane. […]
WILLIAMS, Ariz. — The 2024 summer season has concluded at Grand Canyon Railway and Hotel, yet its steam season presses on with 2-8-2 No. 4960. The Mikado-type was at the head end on Sept. 7 for its seventh “First Saturday” excursion of the year — between Williams and Grand Canyon National Park. “Overall, No. 4960 […]
Tampa streetcar TAMPA, Fla. — Ridership on Tampa’s TECO Line Streetcar System is growing double-digit percentages every fiscal year, thanks in part to a state grant subsidizing its operations and allowing it to offer free fares. However, funding has expired and to sustain the ridership momentum, streetcar operators are looking for a new solution. In […]
Heartland of America Tour ROCHELLE, Ill., — UP’s Heartland of America Tour took a large leap through Illinois Monday with No. 4014 and train departing from Rochelle, Ill., traveling east over former Chicago & North Western trackage to Provo Junction where it ran over the Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad from Bellwood to Dolton, Ill. At […]
Predicting the future is tricky business. Circumstances can change at the drop of a hat, opening up previously unforeseen possibilities. However, with analysis and careful guesswork, a prediction can be made. With that in mind, let us examine the future of the locomotive on the U.S. rail network. The current state of railroading To predict […]
Welcome aboard the Trains–Special Interest Tours 2024 Alaska by Rail adventure. Please join us as we travel on the Alaska Railroad for 9 days from Sept. 8 to 17, heading south from Fairbanks to Anchorage, Alaska. Flying into Fairbanks two days ago the view from above made it appear as if modern Alaska is literally […]
UP Big Boy 4014 LA GRANGE, Ill. — Having a Union Pacific 4-8-8-4 steam locomotive pass through the Chicago area doesn’t happen every day (or maybe for the last seven decades). So it is no surprise hundreds of onlookers turned out at multiple locations to watch “Big Boy” 4014 make its way over the Indiana […]
WASHINGTON — More regulatory oversight is needed to keep rail volumes from shifting to trucks and limiting the railroads’ growth potential, rail customers have told the Surface Transportation Board. Their testimony, along with that of railroads, unions, industry consultants and others, has been filed with STB ahead of a two-day hearing at the agency next […]
US high-speed rail HORSEHEADS, N.Y. – The United States’ first high-speed rail production facility will reside in New York state, according to a joint announcement by U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Brightline West, and Siemens Mobility today (Monday Sept. 9). The press releases, provided to Trains.com News Wire, states that the new 300,000 sq […]
You can’t blame Amtrak for being disappointed with the on-time performance of its long distance trains, which roll off the vast majority of their mileage on host railroads. In the 12 months ending June 30, 2024, just 57% of long distance passengers arrived on the advertised. Amtrak’s No. 1 culprit for late trains: Freight train […]
ATLANTA – Norfolk Southern confirmed late Sunday night that its board has opened an investigation into allegations of conduct by CEO Alan Shaw that is “inconsistent with the company’s Code of Ethics and company policy.” The Wall Street Journal reported this afternoon that Shaw is expected to leave the company by the end of the […]
Welcome to Fairbanks, Alaska, aboard the Trains–Special Interest Tours 2024 Alaska by Rail adventure. Please join us as we travel on the Alaska Railroad for the next 9 days heading south from Fairbanks to Anchorage. Alaska — its official nickname is The Last Frontier. Considering its size and wilderness nature, the name fits. The 49th […]
